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Table 3 Radiologists' ratings of the extent to which causes of unnecessary investigations occur at own workplace

From: What causes increasing and unnecessary use of radiological investigations? a survey of radiologists' perceptions

 

Number (%) of responses1

Cause

To a small or very small extent

To some extent

To a large or very large extent

Over-investigation, because some clinicians tend to rely on investigations more than others and some patients take comfort in being investigated

44 (12.3)

136 (38.1)

177 (49.6)

Insufficient clinical information and unclear questions in the referral

57 (16.0)

149 (41.7)

151 (42.3)

Investigation when the results are unlikely to affect patient management, because the anticipated 'positive' finding is usually irrelevant or because a positive finding is so unlikely

97 (27.7)

156 (44.6)

97 (27.7)

Investigating too often, i.e. before the disease could have progressed or resolved or before the results could influence treatment

99 (27.7)

161 (45.1)

97 (27.2)

Repeating investigations which have already been done

138 (38.9)

184 (51.8)

33 (9.3)

Doing the wrong investigation

195 (54.6)

150 (42.0)

12 (3.4)

  1. 1Only respondents presently working in radiology were asked this question, reducing the maximum number of respondents to 361.